Gareth Bale Injury: Updates on Real Madrid Star's Glute and Return

Updates from Saturday, Nov. 8

Real Madrid provide an update on Gareth Bale's status against Rayo:

Updates from Tuesday, Nov. 4

Real Madrid's official Twitter feed had an update on Gareth Bale's status:

Updates from Monday, Nov. 3

Gareth Bale has been confirmed fit for Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Liverpool.

Nicholas Rigg of AS provided Carlo Ancelotti's update during Monday's press conference:

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 2

Real Madrid confirm Gareth Bale has continued training with the club as he recovers from his latest injury:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

Gareth Bale remains absent as Real Madrid prepare to face Granada this weekend.

Nicholas Rigg of AS provides the latest:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 29

Gareth Bale will almost certainly be fit for Liverpool's looming trip to Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Wednesday.

Pete Jenson of the Mail Online quotes the Italian saying:

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He (Bale) is recuperating well and we will see how he is at the weekend, and if not for Saturday then for the game against Liverpool.

"

Ancelotti also hit back at claims Bale's current injury was caused by him being overplayed, per Madrid's official Twitter:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 24

Gareth Bale faces another week on the sidelines before he can even return to training, Carlo Ancelotti revealed ahead of the Clasico.

ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan provides the latest:

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 21

Gareth Bale has not travelled with the Real Madrid squad for Wednesday's Champions League tie with Liverpool.

Nicholas Rigg of AS reports:

Updates from Monday, Oct. 20

Bleacher Report's Guillem Balague has an update on Bale:

Gareth Bale has been ruled out of Real Madrid's Champions League trip to Liverpool as well as the forthcoming Clasico showdown with Barcelona.

That's according to Sky Sports and B/R UK expert Guillem Balague:

Madrid's official website confirmed the news of Bale's injury:

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After tests carried out on Gareth Bale by the Real Madrid Sanitas medical services, he has been diagnosed with a muscular injury in the right pyramidalis muscle. His progress will be monitored.

"

Carlo Ancelotti had earlier confessed Bale's injury would need assessment ahead of Madrid's trip to Liverpool.

Ancelotti explained that Bale initially missed the win over Levante as a precaution, per Madrid's official website: 

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We have a few days to evaluate the situation of Bale, Benzema, Varane, Ramos and all the players who had fitness issues in this game. Bale had a problem with his gluteus and we preferred not to risk him. It was to avoid taking risks, it wasn't player rotation.

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Original Text

Real Madrid could be without one of their best players as Gareth Bale was forced out of his side's latest match with an injury.

Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football provides the latest details on the star's injury:

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Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale was pulled from the starting line-up of Saturday afternoon’s 0-5 win over Levante after suffering what was later revealed as a pulled glute while on international duty and the Welshman may be forced to sit out Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Liverpool.

"

Bale joined Real Madrid before the 2013-14 season for a world-record fee, a move that paid off immediately. The former Tottenham player totaled 15 goals and 12 assists in league play while also helping the club win the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey titles. 

This year, the 25-year-old player came in with even higher expectations. According to the club's official site, Bale wanted to win every possible trophy:

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What I can say is that each player wants to win all six titles and retain the Champions League. We have a great team spirit and we all help each other. It will be hard, but we will work hard during pre-season just like in the regular season because we want to be the first side that has ever successfully defended the Champions League.

"

The latest injury could slow down Bale's season, but Real Madrid do have enough depth to compensate for the issue. Adding James Rodriguez over the summer helped create one of the deepest rosters in the world with world-class talent at every spot and even on the bench.

Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail notes that both the midfield and attack will be fine with their level of talent:

While there are questions about the defence, the elite offense will be more than enough to keep the club afloat for the moment.

If Bale's injury turns out to be less serious than anticipated, Real Madrid will remain in great shape going forward.

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